Campaigns are an important part of our policy and public affairs work, reflecting the IFoA鈥檚 objective to be the voice of the profession.
Our campaign objectives
Our campaigns鈥� primary goals are to:
- Raise awareness of issues with actuarial relevance, reflecting the IFoA鈥檚 duty to promote the public interest under our Royal Charter.
- Recommend practical solutions, including specific changes to legislation, regulation, or policy.
Our campaign recommendations
Our recommendations reflect engagement with both members and relevant external organisations. We identify proposals that the actuarial community broadly supports, and that we think will have credibility with political stakeholders.
Analysis and evidence in our campaigns
Actuarial analysis and evidence are at the heart of all our campaign work. If external sources are not available, we generate the evidence in-house. IFoA-led research helps us to better integrate our policy, thought leadership, and advocacy activity.
In some cases, we carry out research collaborations with partner organisations, not only benefiting from their expertise but also strengthening relationships. Member-led research can also provide the evidence-base we need for an effective campaign.
Beyond the Next Parliament: the case for long-term policymaking
As experts in long-term risk management, the actuarial profession is advocating a return to long-term thinking. Over the past few years, in the run up to elections, we have produced a series of policy prospectuses. They suggest ways in which government and others can take an alternative approach to ensure a longer time horizon is considered in the policymaking process.
Beyond the next Parliament: The case for long-term policymaking
Who cares? Exploring attitudes to social care in the UK
The Casey Commission, an independent commission into adult social care led by Baroness Louise Casey, got underway in 2025. The commission has been a long-awaited opportunity for the actuarial profession to contribute its skills and expertise to the policy debate on social care.
The IFoA鈥檚 Social Care Working Party examined public attitudes towards saving for social care in its report 鈥榃ho cares? Exploring attitudes to social care in the UK鈥�. The paper, informed by a commissioned YouGov survey, includes the alarming finding that 77% of UK adults have done nothing to prepare for long-term care.
Pension Gaps
In 2024, we highlighted how life鈥檚 decisions can reduce retirement income. This was the first phase of a campaign on pension gaps, igniting a national conversation on pension gaps and the hidden costs of life鈥檚 decisions on retirement income.
For the campaign鈥檚 second phase in 2025, we went deeper, working with market research specialist Ipsos to illuminate the human stories behind the numbers.
Freedom and Choice
In 2015, the UK government implemented the 鈥榝reedom and choice鈥� reforms set out in the Taxation of Pensions Act (2014). This ground-breaking legislation allows individuals to access their pension benefits with much more flexibility than before.
Since then, we have carried out a series of studies that explore public attitudes to these changes one year on, 7 years on, and 10 years on.
Great Risk Transfer
Here we explore the trend to transfer risks from institutions 鈥� such as employers, the state, and financial services providers 鈥� to individuals.
Poverty Premium
Our Poverty Premium campaign, in collaboration with charity Fair by Design, looks at access to insurance, and how it is often those who most need cover who are unable to obtain it.